Tool box with a logo plate thereon

ABSTRACT

A tool box includes a molded box body and a logo plate mounted securely within a recess formed in an outer face of the molded box body through a shrink-fit process. The recess is confined by a recess-defining wall that has a bottom wall portion and a peripheral wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion to the outer face. The logo plate is retained securely by the peripheral wall portion. The logo plate is fitted into the recess while the molded box body, which is formed through a hot molding process, is still in a hot softened state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool box, more particularly to a tool box with a logo plate thereon.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional tool box is shown to include a molded box body 1 with a logo 1012 formed on an outer face 1011 of the box body 1.

Drawbacks associated with forming the logo 1012 on the box body 1 are as follows:

-   -   (1) In case a plurality of inserts corresponding to characters         of the logo 1012 are used to form the logo 1012 on the box body         1 during molding of the tool box, relatively high precision is         required to mount the inserts in the mold prior to molding,         which is laborious.     -   (2) In case a printing technique is employed to form the logo         1012 on the molded box body 1, the molded box body 1 must         undergo a flame treating process to oxidate the outer face 1011         of the molded box body 1 so as to permit firm adhesion of         printing ink to the outer face 1011 of the molded box body 1. In         addition, the color of the ink will fade after a period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a tool box that has a logo plate thereon. The logo plate can be mounted on the tool box in such a manner as to avoid occurrence of the aforesaid drawbacks during manufacture of the conventional tool box.

Accordingly, a tool box of the present invention includes a molded box body having an outer face formed with a plate-receiving recess that is confined by a recess-defining wall which has a bottom wall portion and a peripheral wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion to the outer face. A logo plate is mounted securely within the plate-receiving recess through a shrink-fit process such that the logo plate abuts against and is retained by the peripheral wall portion of the recess-defining wall so as to prevent removal from the plate-receiving recess. The logo plate is fitted into the plate-receiving recess while the molded box body, which is formed through a hot molding process, is still in a hot softened state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional tool box;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a tool box according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, with a logo plate removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment in a hot softened state;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment in a post-shrinkage state;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of a tool box according to the present invention in a post-shrinkage state; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of a tool box according to the present invention in a post-shrinkage state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of a tool box according to the present invention is shown to include a molded box body 10 and a logo plate 20.

As illustrated, the molded box body 10 includes pivotally connected upper and lower box halves 11, 12. The upper box half 11 has an outer face formed with a plate-receiving recess 13 confined by a recess-defining wall 13W that has a bottom wall portion 131 and a peripheral wall portion 132 extending from the bottom wall portion 131 to the outer face of the upper box half 11.

The logo plate 20 has an upper face 21 formed with a logo 24, a lower face 22 opposite to the upper face 21, and a peripheral side face 23 interconnecting the upper and lower faces 21, 22. The logo plate 20 is mounted securely within the plate-receiving recess 13 in the upper box half 11 through a shrink-fit process such that the logo plate 20 abuts against and is retained securely by the peripheral wall portion 132 of the recess-defining wall 13W, thereby preventing removal of the logo plate 20 from the plate-receiving recess 13. Preferably, the peripheral wall portion 132 of the recess-defining wall 13W in the upper box half 11 gradually converges from the bottom wall portion 131 toward a top edge 130 of the peripheral wall portion 132. During manufacture of the tool box of the present invention, the molded box body 10 is formed by using a hot molding process and the logo plate 20 is fitted into the plate-receiving recess 13 in the upper box half 11 while the molded box body 10 is still in a hot softened state, as shown in FIG. 4. When the hot softened box body 10 is cooled and shrinks, as best shown in FIG. 5, the peripheral side face 23 of the logo plate 20 will abut against the peripheral wall portion 132 of the plate-receiving recess 13 in the upper box half 11, thereby retaining the logo plate 20 in the plate-receiving recess 13.

Since the logo plate 20 is securely retained in the plate-receiving recess 13 in the upper box half 11 of the molded box body 10 through shrink fit, the drawbacks as encountered during manufacture of the aforesaid conventional tool box can be eliminated.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second preferred embodiment of a tool box of the present invention is shown to have a construction similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The main difference resides in that the peripheral side face 41 of the logo plate 40 interconnects the upper and lower faces 42,43 and conforms to the shape of the recess-defining wall 33W of the plate-receiving recess 33 in the upper box half 31 of the molded box body 30.

Referring to FIG. 7, the third preferred embodiment of a tool box of the present invention is shown to have a construction similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The main difference resides in that a groove 612 is formed in the recess-defining wall 63W of the plate-receiving recess 63 in the molded box body 60. The logo plate 70 has a peripheral edge portion 72 that is fitted in the groove 612.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A method for making a tool box comprising: forming a tool box through hot molding techniques; attaching a logo plate in a recess in the tool box while the tool box is in a hot softened state; and cooling the tool box so as to permit shrinking of the recess and shrink-fit of the logo plate in the tool box.
 4. A method for making a tool box comprising: forming a tool box including a recess in an exterior surface of the tool box defined by a closed bottom wall surrounded by a peripheral wall; positioning a logo plate in the recess while the tool box is in a hot softened state so that a periphery of the logo plate substantially abuts the peripheral wall of the recess; and thereafter cooling the tool box with the logo plate disposed in the recess to shrink the peripheral wall and thereby form a shrink-fit between the peripheral wall and the periphery of the logo plate to thereby permanently secure the logo plate to the tool box. 